The power is back on in Carinda for the buildings that were not damaged too severely in a devastating storm that hit the town on Sunday. Carinda local and owner of the only pub in town Malcolm George said he could see seven buildings with their power on.  "It's one less worry on people's minds," Bec McLellan, owner of the local café said.  She reckons the storm caused between $10,000 to $20,000 to the café. The inside of Ms McLellan's cafe. Photo: supplied Locals are waiting for their insurance companies to assess their claims.  A few of the houses in Carinda have been declared irreparable.  "If they can't be rebuilt, they'll just have to be demolished which is really sad," Ms McLellan said.  The SES are also conducting asbestos checks on the buildings.  "Asbestos and debris are the main issues in town," Western Zone Deputy Commander Colin Jones said.  "Given the age of the properties, it's been set out from Fire and Rescue as a precaution."He confirmed that there are nine residential properties and four commercial properties which suffered substantial damage. The clean-up has also been progressing well so far. "The favourable weather conditions at the moment are assisting us with the clean-up," Mr Jones said "It was unbelievable the damage and debris strewn throughout the community." The storm is unlike anything the community has seen before, according to Ms McLellan.  "We've had wild storms with strong winds but nothing that's lifted roofs. "It was a freak storm. It felt more severe than a cyclone." IMAGE: FRNSWWind speeds were measured around 100 kilometres per hour "It's remarkable that no one was hurt," she said.  SES crews from as far as Broken Hill, Maitland, Tamworth, and the Metro Zone came to Carinda to assist in tarping roofs, clean up, and any other help that was needed.   The SES envisages they will stay in Carinda for another couple of days or as long as their presence is needed.  "Everybody in the community is positive. They're conducting a lot of work themselves through clean-ups," Mr Jones said. View the Fire & Rescue NSW footage below:

Council leaders, landholders and agricultural representatives had mixed views last week on a string of government project ideas to boost water security in the Macquarie Valley. Officials from the Water Group of the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's (DCCEEW) Water Group met stakeholders in Warren, Carinda and Dubbo for public consultations pooling thoughts on project options to sandbag the region against drought. Known as the Macquarie-Wambuul Water Security Project, the ideas cover from the Burrendong Dam near Wellington to the Macquarie Marshes. Ideas brought to stakeholders include a water pipeline supplying Nyngan and Cobar from Dubbo, raising the Burrendong Dam level by ten per cent and a new weir between Warren and Narromine to replace the one at Gin Gin. "We're looking at water security as a whole. Water security for residents, stock and domestic, environmental use- that's included in what we're considering. What we're looking at is trying to get the best solution for the valley," said Phillipa Fague, Director of Program Development and Management at the Water Group. "We are really keen to get out into the community and speak to people with a diverse range of backgrounds and viewpoints."The Macquarie River catchment. IMAGE: Wikimedia Warren was hit hard by the Tinderbox Drought which ran between 2017 and 2019 and triggered concern that the local hospital would have to evacuate due to lack of water for firefighting. At the Warren Sporting and Cultural Centre, up to 10 stakeholders watched a presentation by project manager Angus MacDonald on Wednesday 13 November, which showed that by 2070 the probability of another Tinderbox, or worse, will jump from one in 1000 years to one in 30. That is why former local mayor Milton Quigley, who was at the meeting, said he supports raising the wall of the Burrendong Dam to store more flood water for dry times. The dam releases into the Macquarie River, which flows up through Narromine, Warren and Carinda before flowing into the Barwon River between Brewarrina and Walgett. "Let's use some water when it's really little use, and convert it into water of great use during a drought," Mr Quigley said. Some Macquarie Marshes graziers who went to the Carinda meeting on 14 November, were less keen on raising the dam. "That's going to mean that there's less dam spills, and dam spills are what wets the Marshes and creates a healthy environment down there," northern Marshes sheep and cattle grazier Robert McLellan said. Farmer Andrew McGrath, former Warren mayor Milton Quigley, David Duncan and Warren Shire Council General Manager Gary Woodman at the Warren meeting. IMAGE: Tess Van Lubeck/ Warren StarGraziers at the Carinda meeting also dismissed the other project ideas, which they said will not improve connections between the Macquarie River and the Barwon River. On the Dubbo-Nyngan pipeline, Macquarie River grazier and chair of non-profit River Smart Australia, Kate Mildner, said the project would be "very expensive." The town draws water from a weir in the Bogan River and the Macquarie River via the Albert Priest Channel, which also made her question why a pipeline would be needed. "It seems extraordinary that the Macquarie has to supply a town that is on its own river," Ms Mildner said. "Is there other ways that they could guarantee water supply? "Nyngan is an important town. It needs its water in a drought to supply its own community, so is it possible to use groundwater? Is it possible, seeing big, high flows in the Bogan, that they have some methods of storage?" A DCCEEW spokesperson said "robust analysis" of the Bogan found the river does not produce reliable flows during drought, which makes it "far less viable option for water transfer." The spokesperson said Dubbo has access a larger and more secure water supply, and the water is already set aside in Burrendong Dam for Nyngan and Cobar.Better marketing required - attendees Stakeholders in Warren said they were given fair chance to have their say, although attendees at both meetings also said the gatherings could have been better publicised. The spokesperson said they were advertised in media outlets in locations where consultations were held, including the Warren Star and Walgett Spectator. Feedback from the consultations will be considered for the department's $9.35 million final business case, which will shortlist the most viable options and be delivered in late 2025-early 2026. The Australian and NSW governments split the cost 50-50, which goes towards technical studies, environmental and cultural heritage assessments, consultation and the writing of the business case. Whichever party takes government at the federal election next year will decide whether to fund a project.

Grain handlers with the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) have accepted a deal with GrainCorp for a 14 per cent pay rise over three years. The union says 90 per cent of members opted for the deal over 24 hours of voting from 6am on Monday 18 November. The first pay rise of six per cent will be backdated to 1 July 2024.  The second, also six per cent , will kick in on 1 July 2025 before a final increase of two per cent will arrive in pay packets on 1 July 2026. "We are pleased that NSW employees have voted in favour of their Enterprise Agreement. This outcome reflects our commitment to providing a fair, competitive and supportive workplace for our valued team members," a GrainCorp spokesperson said. Workers will also receive a $1250 sign-on bonus. IMAGE: GrainCorpThe vote comes after union members began industrial action last month at Grain Corp receival sites, which the union says included in Gulargambone and Baradine.“Grain handlers backed each other, stood shoulder to shoulder and now they’ve had a great result, they’re stoked,” said Ron Cowdrey, Australian Workers’ Union NSW Assistant Branch Secretary. “Our members can now focus fully on getting in the winter harvest."

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton yesterday [Monday 18 November 2024] delivered his valedictory speech, just a few days short of 17 years since he was first elected as the 1029th Member of the Australian Parliament.Mr Coulton took the opportunity to thank his family, friends, supporters, and current and former staff – many of whom travelled to be there in person – as well as his National party and Coalition colleagues for their support over the past 17 years.He paid special tribute to his wife Robyn who he said has been by his side every step of the way.“We decided to do this as a team,” Mr Coulton said.“So, for the last 18 years – we spent a year campaigning beforehand – we’ve travelled together, and in a big year we’ve probably spent the equivalent of 20 40-hour weeks a year in the front of a car – Robyn reading the emails and me dictating messages back to the office.”Mr Coulton spoke of the great diversity and uniqueness of the Parkes electorate which he said is much more than just the agricultural and mining industries that underpin the economy.He said there are so many projects and “shiny things” he could highlight as achievements over the years, such as the Western Cancer Centre in Dubbo, the Australian Opal Centre in Lightning Ridge, the Baaka Cultural Centre in Wilcannia, the library in Broken Hill, the small animal abattoir in Bourke, and of course, the Inland Rail – “just build it for God’s sake!”The Hon. Mark Coulton with his most valuable supporter, his wife Robyn. IMAGE SUPPLIED.But Mr Coulton said some of the achievements he’s most proud of are those that are more difficult to point to.“Sometimes your successes with issues become invisible, because if you fix the problem people stop talking about it,” Mr Coulton said.“A lot of the things that are achieved here are done without recognition.“When I was Regional Health Minister, I introduced] the generalist pathway, which is training doctors with more skills to work in rural areas.“The medical school at Dubbo had over 520 applicants for the 30 places, so we’re training local doctors in the area.“I graduated the rebate for Medicare. I don’t know that anybody here even knows that if you’re a doctor working in the more remote areas, you get a higher rebate for every patient you see than the ones in the cities.“[As Assistant Trade Minister], I represented the country a couple of times at APEC in tourism and trade. I was at the first ministerial meeting of the TPP-11, which was the biggest trade deal done in the history of the world. But what people wouldn’t realise now, when the farmers are going to the silo and looking at the price of barley, that one of the buyers now is Mexico. They're buying barley to make beer in Mexico because of that agreement that we made.“When [farmers] are having their big crop now and they’re filling up the grain storages that [were funded by a tax deduction] in one year, as a policy to prepare farmers for drought so that they can store their grain and manage it better, they're probably not thinking that that was a decision and a discussion that came out of our party room. But those sorts of decisions are making big changes for people.”In contrast, Mr Coulton said sometimes decisions made in Parliament are not always for the better.“When the distribution priority area changed straight after the last election - and the doctors could now declare Wollongong, Geelong and Newcastle as regional - western New South Wales lost six doctors that week,” Mr Coulton said.“Six that week from some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country. So, decisions here can make a difference.”In his final message, Mr Coulton said regional Australia shouldn’t be taken for granted. He expressed his concerns that regional Australia is being compromised so that city-dwellers can feel good about doing something to lower emissions and “save the planet”.“When you take your family to Disneyland and you tick the box that you want to offset your carbon emissions and pay a bit more money, and that money goes to plant trees on a productive farm, you are then sending a future generation to have to worry about food security,” Mr Coulton said.“If we're going to treat regional Australia as a magic pudding, that every time we want to do something we just pinch a bit away, and every time you lock up a western New South Wales sheep farm and turn it into a national park or you buy productive water out of the Murray Darling Basin, then you are subjecting future generations to have to worry about food security.“And it's not just us. We feed 50 million people outside of Australia, so we've just got to keep that in mind.“I said in my first speech that I have a deep and unshakeable belief in inland Australia; and I still believe that today. It holds the keys to the future prosperity of our country.“There would be no better place to live in the world than Australia, and no better place in Australia to live than in western New South Wales.“It's been an honour and a privilege to serve as the 1029th member elected to the Australian Parliament. But it's time to move on, and I thank you very much.”Please note: the video of the valedictory speech can be viewed online here with timestamp 16:24:23.

Police are appealing to the public to locate a person wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant and known to frequent Cobar.Aaron Hinch, aged 37, is wanted for domestic violence-related assault offences.Officers attached to Central North Police District are conducting inquiries into his whereabouts.Aaron is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, large build, about 165cm tall, with black hair, brown eyes and light brown complexion.Anyone with information into his whereabouts can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Power in Carinda is expected to be restored this evening as multiple Essential Energy crews work to repair infrastructure downed in Sunday's storm. Extra crews arrived overnight while a generator and service station have been set up in the town, according to an Essential Energy spokesperson. It comes as Barwon MP Roy Butler has written to Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, for "urgent consideration" of a natural disaster declaration for Walgett Shire. The SES says at least 12 properties are uninhabitable and residents have been offering each other shelter overnight. Carinda Hotel owner Malcolm George offered a "decked out" school bus he owns as accommodation to one resident. Local Maz Saunders said an elderly man whose property was severely damaged also made use of a caravan driven to his yard by other community members.Storm damage to one of the business in Carinda. IMAGE: supplied "He didn't want to go, he didn't want to move because he's an old fella," Ms Saunders said. "Everybody will have a bed for someone if they need." Ms Saunders also said she "can't fault" the emergency response, which has included personnel from SES, Rural Fire Service (RFS), Walgett Shire Council and police. "They're (Essential Energy workers) like little Oompa Loompas. There's just a sea of orange, men running around, putting poles up. It's amazing to see the response," Ms Saunders said. The community hall, which was partially damaged in the storm, is also being offered for temporary accommodation. GoFundMe set up for Carinda Sisters Bec Thackery and Kirsty Squires have family in the area and went there as children during the school holidays with "every chance we got." They currently live in Maitland and still visit the town where they can. Yesterday, they set up a GoFundMe to help community members with food, bills and building supplies. "We used to go to church with our grandmother and food shopping with her in the old shop there and of course ice cream," Ms Squires said. "We know that Carinda is a tight community and will work together through this, but we just wanted to show them that we are all here for them and it might not be much, but whatever we can do to help." The fundraiser has raised $415 as at 12:17pm today and has a goal of $10,000.More detail here.  Recovery still underwayEmergency service vehicles on the ground. IMAGE: suppliedFollowing process - ButlerBarwon MP Roy Butler has been in contact with government authorities and said he is expecting a transition from response to recovery "at some point in the next couple of days." "But that won't happen until mains power is fully restored," Mr Butler said. "There's a couple of really important things that have to happen at the moment: that's crop damage assessments, and also we need to get a really good handle on the damage to council infrastructure, because that can impact on the federal assistance that becomes available if we can cross certain thresholds in terms of the value of the damage that's occurred." Mr Butler said he understands many local residences are uninsured or underinsured, which prompted him to reach out to NSW Premier Chris Minn's office to establish a grant scheme similar to the one-off $200 payments offered to people impacted by the power outages in far western NSW last month.

The mayor of Walgett Shire Council has called on the New South Wales Government to declare a state of disaster in Carinda.Councillor Jasen Ramien has contacted the government for support to make the declaration as community members and emergency workers clean up the devastated town. This comes after severe winds downed trees and power poles on Sunday, cutting power and peeling the roofs off homes and businesses.“The natural disaster declaration will allow us to make the decisions we need to begin our recovery, knowing we have the necessary support,” Cr Ramien said. Local Government Areas covered by natural disaster declarations gain access to support including transport subsidies, business grants and extra funds emergency assistance like sandbagging.  IMAGE: Rachel LamphDeclarations need approval from the state and federal governments, plus assessments on the scale and damage of an event. They can take days or weeks depending on how pressing the situation is.  “The first responders have been doing a tremendous job with the clean up, but now councils, families and businesses need more certainty as they begin to count the cost of the damage,” Shadow Minister for Western NSW Sarah Mitchell said. Minister focus on immediate assistanceNSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said his immediate focus is on providing assistance to residents. “My thoughts are with those impacted by this weather event, which has caused significant damage to this community," he said. “I’d also like to thank the emergency first responders from the NSW SES, RFS and emergency service partners who are doing everything they can to get services restored and assessments undertaken. “I have also asked the NSW Reconstruction Authority to work with emergency services and the local council to explore what support is needed and ensure assessments are undertaken as quickly as possible to determine if further assistance can be made available under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements with the Commonwealth Government.” Minister Dib would not confirm whether the government will declare the region a disaster zone when approached for comment.  Telegraph polls 'snapped off'Carinda Hotel owner Malcolm George was at the pub when the storm hit.  He saw wind push telegraph poles out of place. "Snapped them off," he said. "It was just like a tornado you see on TV like over in America."  He said the pub lost a sheet of iron off the roof while the fences, laundry and shed were blown away. At other properties, the damage was more extensive, with the roof of the pizza shop at Far West Store all torn off. The storm front that ravaged Carinda lashed the Western Plains and caused headaches for the SES, who reported 49 incidents in its Western Zone, mostly for fallen trees. At least 12 properties 'uninhabitable' Initial damage assessments from the SES indicate least 12 properties are severely damaged and uninhabitable in the town, with power and mobile services being supported by generators. SES volunteers from Dubbo, Tamworth, Nyngan, Walgett and Warren have travelled to Carinda to help with the clean up.  Welfare services have been established as the SES prepares to resupply the community with drinking water. NSW SES incident controller, Chief Superintendent Brigid Rice, said the service's priority was ensuring properties are safe, undertaking impact assessments and supporting displaced residents. “These homes are likely to be without power until at least tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday).. Mobile communications are also intermittent due to the damage in the area,” she said.READ MORE:Hundreds still without power after storm frontExtensive storm damage in CarindaPower outages patchwork western plains

Around 400-500 customers remain without power in the Western Plains following the storm that left a path of destruction in its wake yesterday. Essential Energy says its crews worked in "challenging conditions" last night and returned this morning to continue repair and clean-up efforts. A spokesperson for the company said customers will receive texts with an estimate for when the power comes back on when it becomes available. "At the height of the storms, more than 17,000 Essential Energy customers were without power in the southern, central and northern regions of New South Wales. At one stage, over 13,000 of those impacted were in Wagga Wagga and the surrounding areas," the spokesperson said.  "As at 11.30am today, the number of customers without power has been reduced to around 2,300 after crews made significant progress restoring power where it was safe and possible to do so."  According to the latest update from Essential Energy, 47 customers in the Collerina area near Bourke can expect the power back on by 10pm tonight.Multiple areas of western NSW are still affected by yesterday evening's storm activity. SOURCE: Essential Energy Outages Crews are currently working to repair areas of the network where poles and wires went down in the area. A company spokesperson said there is a helicopter patrolling to reveal the full extent of the damage in the North Western zone, where 534 customers remain without power.Meanwhile, the town of Carinda in the Walgett Shire has been hardest hit, with severe damage to homes and businesses. More details here.

The community of Carinda in the Walgett Shire is cleaning up after a storm lashed the area yesterday.No injuries have been reported after wild weather downed electricity poles and tore the roofs from homes and businesses.  Power has been off from around 6pm yesterday, although mobile service appears to have remained active. It's understood one woman's dog died from injuries sustained in the storm. Damage to businessesDestructive winds destroyed roofs at three commercial properties including the local pub, pizza shop and general store, as well as at least three private residents, according to the NSW SES. Pizza shop owner at Carinda Far West Store, Bec McLellan, said she doesn't know at this point if the building is recoverable. "We can probably recover a few things, but there's a lot of water damage. The roof has completely fallen in the Far West Store, so the chimney is gone," Ms McLellan said. "But, I mean, I'm pretty lucky that it's not my house either. It's only a place of work. I do feel for people that have this happen to their actual homes. "Nobody was hurt, so that's the main thing."The Carinda Far West Store lost its roof in the storm. IMAGE: Rachel Lamph The SES is advising residents to keep clear of damaged buildings, fallen trees and powerlines. Residents who want to check if their neighbours need help or need assistance themselves can call NSW SES on 132 500.Shire sending trucks Walgett Mayor Jasen Ramien said at around 9am today that trucks from Council were being sent to Carinda to help with the clean up. "We will engage contractors to clean up. We've got Council staff on hand there to help as well. Council staff went there last night to help with the traffic control," Cr Ramien said. "We had SES and RFS, Essential Energy, police, all on scene there."SES teams from Tamworth, Dubbo, Walgett and Nyngan are also expected the town to help clean up around 119 properties.The SES has recorded 49 incidents in its Western Zone as a storm front swept across the Western Plains, 32 involving fallen trees. High winds preceded the storms with Cobar Airport recording a 98 km per hour wind gust at 2:55 pm yesterday.Around 2300 customers remain without power in the zone, according to the SES 

Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crews have saved a row of businesses in Trangie from a fire that’s destroyed an abandoned café on Sunday morning 17 November.The blaze broke out in Dandaloo Street, just after 9am.The FRNSW crew from Trangie was quickly on the scene and was joined by FRNSW’s Assistant Commissioner for Regional Operations, Cheryl Steer, who was travelling through the town at the time.The crew battled to control the blaze for 90 minutes, providing water protection on both sides of the derelict business, preventing the flames from engulfing the row of shops.IMAGE: Fire & Rescue NSWAssistant Commissioner Steer, as Incident Commander, liaised with other emergency services and directed additional fire crews from Dubbo, Narromine, Gulgong and Delroy to the scene.The abandoned café was destroyed by the intense blaze.IMAGE: Fire & Rescue NSWNo-one was injured in the incident.The cause of the fire has not yet been established.IMAGE: Fire & Rescue NSWAssistant Commissioner Steer has praised the efforts of the firefighters, particularly the local crew, which immediately recognised the risk and acted quickly to stop the spread of flames to neighbouring businesses.

If your place is without power this evening you are not alone.The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning earlier this afternoon as a front crossed the state bringing damaging winds and the risk of hail.High winds preceded the storms with Cobar Airport recording a 98 km per hour wind gust at 2:55 pm.An estimated 5000 customers have lost power in an area that reaches from west of Tilpa to just east of Coolah, and from the Queensland border north of Weilmoringle to just west of Bogan Gate in the south.'A surface trough ahead of a vigorous cold front is producing severe thunderstorms over central NSW,' the Bureau's alert said. 'This activity is expected to shift quickly towards the east this evening.'The power first cut out around Tilpa at around 2:47pm with Coolah affected at around 7:10pm.Surprisingly, apart from Warren, Trangie, Narromine and Gulargambone, most townships have so far avoided the blackouts.Multiple areas of western NSW have been affected by this evening's storm activity. SOURCE: Essential Energy OutagesEssential Energy's emergency crews will be working overtime to find and address the multiple incidents.With intense lightning activity and high winds, the State Emergency Service advises that people should:Move your car under cover or away from trees.Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.Unplug computers and appliances.Avoid using the phone during the storm.Stay indoors away from windows, and keep children and pets indoors as well.Stay vigilant and monitor conditions. Note that the landscape may have changed following bushfires.Thousands of lightning strikes have accompanied the storm front. SOURCE: Farmonline weatherFor emergency help in floods and storms, ring the SES (NSW and ACT) on 132 500.The next storm update is due to be issued by the Bureau at 10:25 pm.Click Power Outages for an update in your area. For radar try Western Plains (Brewarrina composite).

New research reveals a worrying rise in drug and alcohol-related deaths in Western NSW, yet regional voices are still underrepresented in the Government’s hearings on the matter.This year’s Drug Summits featured only two regional forums—Griffith on 1 November and Lismore on 4 November—while the final sessions will take place in Sydney on 4 and 5 December.At the Lismore summit, the NSW Government announced they are committing $21 million over four years to enhance alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment and support for people in Northern NSW.The funding includes $6.8 million for three new programs by the not-for-profit AOD and mental health organization, The Buttery, which is located near Bangalow.So far, no new initiatives have been announced for the west of the state - despite latest data showing the region has the highest rate of drug-related deaths in New South Wales. Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said it was vital that government continue to support community organisations like The Buttery to help people achieve recovery and rebuild their lives.“This funding will focus on increasing access to evidence-based treatment, prevention, and early intervention services especially in regional and rural areas,” Mr Park said.“These new programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of people living in regional areas, and priority population groups including Aboriginal people, pregnant women, people with mental health conditions, young people, and people involved in the criminal justice system."But where does that leave Western New South Wales?Were the regions an afterthought?NSW National Leader, Dugald Saunders told media he thought the regional aspect of the Drug Summits were "tacked on." "My first reaction was that it was slightly odd that there was only Griffith and Lismore were chosen for regional locations," he said."Like many other things we have seen recently, this government is not one that is based around regional needs."The Drug Summit at Lismore was well attended, but did it do enough to represent issues from the Western Plains?Greens MP and drug law reform and harm reduction spokesperson Cate Faehrmann attended the Lismore hearing of the drug summit and pushed for key drug law reform measures as well as investment that reflects the needs of regional New South Wales, including for specialist drug treatment services and detox facilities.  “If the government is genuine about saving lives it will be open to the recommendations arising from this inquiry and respond to the experts and the evidence,” Ms Faehrmann said."New South Wales is dragging its heels when it comes to implementing sensible measures to reduce the harm from drugs and save lives. “These new programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of people living in regional areas, and priority population groups including Aboriginal people, pregnant women, people with mental health conditions, young people, and people involved in the criminal justice system."When faced with criticism of the location of the Drug Summits, Mr Park told media that “it is simply not possible you hold the summit in every region of the state.”Have your sayWhile research is a critical component, there are many calls for treatment and recovery services to be available in western NSW.The final part of the drug summit will take place in Sydney in Sydney on 4 and 5 December.While the event is situated even further from the Western Plains, people can have their say on reducing drug-related harms and improving community health and wellbeing.This can be done via a survey which must be completed today Sunday 17 November.  You have until 11.59pm to submit your comments. 

The 2025-27 NSW Heritage Grants Program is now open with $8.5 million dollars up for grabs to support local councils or those who manage or own items listed on the NSW State Heritage Register over a two-year time frame. The funding is available across four key areas including:Caring for State HeritageActivating State HeritageAboriginal Cultural HeritageLocal Government Heritage Stephen Lawrence MLC is encouraging communities to take a serious look at the grants and apply to help activate, preserve and protect important heritage sites across our regions. “The NSW Heritage Grants Program offers an opportunity for us to help protect and activate heritage places, deepening our connection to the stories and history that define our community. “I strongly encourage eligible applicants to apply to help protect and activate heritage places in our community, enhancing public engagement and cultural awareness,” said Mr Lawrence.Stephen Lawrence MLC - image NSW Parliament One local Cobar resident says more funding should be provided for small towns to maintain sites for future generations. “Our country and culture is vitally important and any site that we can save is imperative,” she said. “We need to be able to show our current and future generations what took place before them and how it shaped the community and their people, from all walks of life. “Unfortunately, in a throwaway society these things don’t have much appeal and it is up to us the elders to make sure they are protected for years to come,” she added.The Great Western Hotel Cobar The Heritage Grants program will aim to support declared Aboriginal places, activate items on the NSW State Heritage Register and assist local councils to preserve and promote local heritage, with an increase in funding available to the tune of $2.5 million dollars. Derek Francis General Manager of Bogan Shire Council says the Shire is hoping to access some funding out of this round. “We haven’t received Heritage Grant funding prior to this, but hopefully we can for some repairs to the façade of Nyngan Town Hall. “We have had some preliminary discussions but haven’t yet progressed to the application. “Our heritage buildings are so important as part of our town’s identity and grant funding is often the only way small rural communities would be able to afford the necessary cost,” Mr Francis said. Applications close at 10am on Thursday 30 January 2025. Anyone interested in applying can find more information, eligibility criteria and application details on the Heritage NSW website or the NSW Government Grants and Funding Finder.

The NSW government says teacher vacancies in the state electorate of Barwon dropped by over a quarter over the past twelve months. Numbers released this week by the government show a decrease of 27 per cent from Term 3 2023 to the same time this year. The electorate covers the majority of the Western Plains shires, barring Narromine, although it also includes regional population centres Narrabri, Wilcannia and Broken Hill, which dilutes local figures. “The sustained drop in vacancies shows we’re making progress on addressing the teacher shortages left by the former NSW Liberal National Government, ensuring we have qualified teachers in every classroom to support student outcomes," NSW premier Chris Minns said. “There has never been a better time to consider a teaching job outside of the major cities." The government says its 2023 Temporary Workforce Transition Initiative saw more than 4,800 temporary teachers and 4,700 temporary school support staff become permanent employees in rural, remote, and regional schools. The NSW government has been trying to get more teachers into rural classrooms. IMAGE: Western Plains App/ River McCrossenThe government has also provided recruitment bonuses for key roles, rent subsidies and relocation support to draw educators to rural areas. However, Condobolin High School Parents and Citizens president, Cecilia Whippy says she hasn't noticed a drop in local teaching vacancies. "We always have trouble trying to fill positions," said Ms Whippy, who also sits on a local committee that interviews potential new teachers. "A lot of them have come from Sydney, some have come from Canberra, Melbourne. They've come from everywhere.  "We're fortunate that the ones who have been here have stayed, but the young ones come and go. "Because of the travel and them being away from their family, there's really nothing that can help to bring them out. It's just a really hard situation to try and solve. "They think, 'oh this is boring.'" The former primary school canteen manager arrived in Condobolin from Sydney around 30 years ago and now has grandchildren at the high school. She admits she found it hard to settle in at first. "But then I found things to do. You get involved in the community, do volunteer work, and then all of a sudden you get busy. And I think people just need to do that, make friends in the community. "Before you know it, your weekend's gone and it's Monday and you go back to work again. You're not sitting home thinking 'this is boring, I got nothing to do.'"Have the government incentives had an impact in your area? Contact Us to let us know about your local school's situation.

After more than a decade of development, New South Wales’ unique bush art trail, ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’, has reached completion. The 100-kilometre trail stretches from Forbes to Condobolin, creating a unique cultural corridor through the heart of NSW. The installation of its final piece, ‘Brumbies Run’, by Brett ‘Mon’ Garling compliments the 25 striking sculptures that celebrate the spirit of rural Australia.    The local artist behind the vision, Rosie Johnston, first conceptualised ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’ 13 years ago. Reflecting on her first drive along the Lachlan River forty years ago, Rosie recalls the stretch of road between Forbes and Condobolin, where she felt "a sense that this was true Australia."“The massive red river gums, golden grasses and screeching cockatoos spotted against stormy Prussian skies… a tough but romantic place.”   Years later, Rosie set out to create what she imagined as the bush’s version of Bondi’s ‘Sculpture by the Sea,’ showcasing large-scale, permanent installations complimenting the rugged beauty of the Lachlan River landscape. The trail features sculptures that respectfully honour the Wiradjuri people, recognising their rich cultural heritage, ancestral wisdom and enduring legacy in the region. While the trail officially launched in 2014, the newest addition, ‘Brumbies Run’ is a bronze sculpture of wild horses that reflects the spirit of rural Australia. Mounted on his own bronze creation, Brett 'Mon' Garling embodies the spirit of the brumby. Image: Sculptures Down the Lachlan (Facebook).The installation is located at Warroo Reserve, a site once part of the historic Warroo Station. Reflecting on the piece, artist Brett ‘Mon’ Garling wrote that ‘of all the iconic images we use to represent our freedom, spirit and enthusiasm the wild horses running, kicking and leaping, wide eyed with nostrils flared, embody what it is to be us.’   ‘From the mountain brumbies to the light horse in Beersheba, to the bushranger's steed and the picnic races winner, they speak of a universal language that all people understand.' This sentiment resonates with Rosie, whose long-standing dream was to "feature a horse sculpture on the trail."  The project was not without challenges. Before the substantial grant was received from the NSW Government, the project was carried out by volunteers, with many giving up their free time to bring the vision to life. The 'Amazing' (2017) sculpture designed by Rosie was fabricated from eight tonnes of steel and installed by local farmers, tradespeople and engineers who volunteered their time, in 'true country spirit.'“Some of the greatest challenges were having enough free time to come up with the concepts and ideas and for some, the actual physical challenges of creating something 'so large scale' in the bush” Rosie said.Yet the community rallied around the project, with local businesses, the council and residents donating time, resources and expertise. “This sculpture trail wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for a particular group of very passionate, hardworking stoic people who have enough respect in the community that they in turn had support from the community” Rosie reflected.    “I’d say to anyone, dream big, because dreams can become reality if you work as a team with passionate, like - minded people.”   The ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’ has brought benefits beyond artistic value to the towns of Forbes and Condobolin. The increased visitor numbers have contributed to local economic growth, with new businesses emerging. The success of the trail has garnered international recognition, sparking an “amazing” marketing campaign for Forbes and ongoing “beautifying” efforts by the local council. Rosie Johnson's 'Amazing' Sculpture took three years between the construction of the first letter, ‘a’ and its installation along the Lachlan Valley Way. Image: supplied.  Rosie describes the “snowballing effect” of the trail that she hopes will continue with fresh energy and ideas from future generations, enriching both the art scene and local economy for years to come.    At the end of the ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’ trail, travellers will find themselves at Condobolin’s iconic ‘Utes in the Paddock,’ a unique display of 20 Holden Utes transformed into art installations. The popularity of this site prompted the Lachlan Shire Council to establish a new Visitor Information Centre nearby. The trail adds to a line-up of major attractions in the Central West, including the Parkes CSRIO Radio Telescope (known as The Dish), the Grenfell Commodities Silos and the Eugowra Murals.   Each artwork in ‘Sculpture Down the Lachlan’ tells a story of Australian history and culture, and Rosie Johnston hopes it gives visitors “a sense of joy” where they are "grounded and anchored in the present moment, or time-travel, or just relax and enjoy being in nature and our beloved Australian bush.” To plan a self-guided exploration, visitors can find information here.

Grain handlers will vote on a proposed pay deal with GrainCorp on Monday 18 November for a 14 per cent pay rise over three years. Australia Workers' Union (AWU) members will be asked whether to accept a rise back paid to 1 July 2024, plus a $1250 sign-on bonus.  Voting will run for 24 hours from 6am and the results will be known on 19 October.“Last Friday, I met with AWU delegates and they endorsed a new agreement to go to a vote, now it’s up to members to vote it up or reject it,” AWU NSW Secretary Tony Callinan said. “This is a huge win for our members at GrainCorp considering the low wage increases they’ve suffered through in recent times." GrainCorp declined to comment on the vote. The Coonamble GrainCorp receival site in action during harvest this year. IMAGE: GrainCorpUnder the deal, workers would receive an extra six per cent boost in the first year, back paid from the start of July 2024. They would receive another six per cent rise over the next 12 period, followed by a two per cent rise in 2025-26. The vote, announced Tuesday 12 November, comes after industrial action began at Grain Corps sites on 29 October, including in Parkes and Narrabri. The union says worker pay has not kept up with inflation. If members vote against the deal, potential future actions could disrupt the harvest schedule as the season enters its final weeks. However, Trangie grain truck driver Matt Ferrari said he is not concerned about his local GrainCorp receival site. "We haven't had any dramas in Trangie with that," he said. "I think we should be pretty right." He said the site wasn't affected by the strikes last month.

Macquarie Home Stay Dubbo have given a shout out to local farmers in the broader region to donate grain this harvest season, in the hope of reducing debt on the new CWA guesthouse to allow more rural patients to stay.Macquarie Home Stay (pictured below), which is expected to house over 9000 patients and helpers in 2025, is a home away from home for many rural people visiting Dubbo for medical care. The facility provides affordable, low-cost accommodation for patients and their partner before, during and post treatment.Following a very successful wool drive, in previous years, the committee decided on a grain drive whereby farmers use a supplied National Grower Register (NGR) number to allocate a percentage of grain to be gifted to the organisation.“The wool drive was very successful with graziers from predominantly Nyngan, Cobar, Bourke, and Walgett donating to our cause which led to MacDonald Wool & Co sponsoring a couple of rooms for us. Which was so appreciated, especially as so many of the guests hail from those areas and beyond,” according to Macquarie Home Stay Chairman Andrew Single.“This year we are asking if growers or merchants who are transferring their grain, would like to donate a tonne or two, and if so, we would be very grateful.“Ideally we would love to raise $200,000 to assist in debt repayment. We started off with around 16 rooms initially but with the soon to be completed CWA guesthouse we will have around 50 rooms on offer for people who need them.“This means that our goal of not turning people away that need us (while they are struggling, sick and unwell) will be achieved and this is a high priority for us,” said Mr Single.“One of our aims is to broaden the number of people who know about us. We think people know what we do, but I still find that many people don’t and sadly lots of patients travel to Dubbo for medical care and assistance totally unaware that we are here to help them.“We pride ourselves on our amazing accommodation and our caring environment and even being around other rural people staying at the accommodation can make it more like a home environment,” he said.Andrew Single Chairman Macquarie Home Stay Dubbo.Nano Moody and husband Richard are farmers situated between Narromine and Trangie, and although Nano was able to drive home during her cancer treatments, she saw the many other patients who were able to use the Macquarie Home Stay facility so beneficially.Nano Moody farmer - Image supplied “Macquarie Home Stay grain drive is a fantastic initiative. As a farmer, it’s an easy way to support a wonderful facility that helps so many people in the rural areas around Dubbo.“Just use their NGR number to allocate some grain, it’s that easy.“As a patient that went through treatment at the Western Cancer Centre, Macquarie Homestay is so important,” said Mrs Moody.“I had 33 sessions of radiation and fortunately now I live close enough that I was driven in and out each day, but if we still lived at Hermidale, I would have needed accommodation.“Dubbo motels are full capacity most of the time, Macquarie Homestay fills this gap and is so important to our wider outback and rural communities,” she said.For more information or to donate please contact Chairman Andrew Single on 0400546013.

A First Nations arts company has received $15,000 for a pilot camp aimed at boosting financial literacy for Indigenous communities in the Brewarrina shire. The two-day camp will focus on tweens and under 18s in Brewarrina, Goodooga and Weilmoringle, although is open to all ages. Sydney-based Mooghalin Performing Arts, which has an office in Brewarrina's Yarruu Hub, received the grant on behalf of educator Kids Get Money as one of 22 groups in Australia under ANZ's yearly Seeds of Renewal Program. The grant recipients were announced on Wednesday 13 October. "In the arts - and this is why we've supported this project - if you don't have a good budget and you're not across it, then you're going to fail miserably and come out in a deficit," Mooghalin co-founder Lily Shearer said. "Unfortunately in Australia, for some of our people, financial literacy is still very minimum. We're living day to day, or we're living week to week."Mooghalin Performing Arts co-founder Lily Shearer. IMAGE: supplied  Ms Shearer could not confirm dates and locations for camps, or how many there may be. She said educators will teach budgeting and numerary and include financial games. The $15,000 will go towards reimbursing educators, stationary and learning equipment. The Coonamble Local Aboriginal Land Council also received $12,000 for its Kinship Clean project, which involves volunteer clean-up events. The Seeds of Renewal Program has been running for 22 years and this year awarded $250,000 in grants up to $15,000, with one of the aims being to increase financial wellbeing in rural and regional communities. ANZ awards the money with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR). “Through partnerships, such as our longstanding association with ANZ, we can support and fund these groups to lead local initiatives and continue to strive for, and celebrate, the liveability, sustainability and vibrancy of Australia's remote, rural and regional communities,” FRRR CEO Ms Egleton said.

Clear skies and ace pilots made the perfect mix at Coonabarabran Airport as close to 1000 people descended on Warrumbungle Wings & Things last Saturday. Around 20 planes put on an air show, were on display or simply flew in with spectators to watch on the day, including warbirds dating back over 70 years. Former Royal Australian Air Force fighter pilot and racing world champion Matt Hall had the crowd fearing for his safety with daring manoeuvres at the aerodrome, where the ground level drops with the hillside.  "You'd hear everyone going, 'oh my god, he's out of control,'" Coonabarabran Aero Club President Sherelle Moore said. "He'd dip out of sight and then pop up somewhere else around the other side of the aerodrome. I don't know how many other places where that can be the case." Mr Hall joined fellow pilots Emma McDonald and the Red Star Roulettes in the air.A T-6 Havard, also know as a T-6 Texan, a the Saturday show. IMAGE: Coonabarabran Aero Club/ Facebook Show-goers also caught wind with afternoon joy flights while the pilots hosted a Q&A in the morning. Some of the warplanes on display included an American T-6 Texan, used to train pilots in World War Two, and two Chinese Nanchang CJ-6. Spectators travelled from Gunnedah, Tamworth and Dubbo for the show. "Many, many people came up to me and just said how much they enjoyed the show and how they thought it was just such a great event, and how amazing that a little place like Coonabarabran can attract big names like Matt Hall," Ms Moore said.